How Much Do You Know About Autoimmune Diseases?

Autoimmune diseases can affect anyone, but women are at greater risk. These diseases also share common symptoms: fatigue, dizziness, and low-grade fever, according to the National Women’s Health Information Center. Test your knowledge of this serious—and mysterious—class of diseases.

1. Which of these is an autoimmune disease?

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AIDS stands for "acquired immunodeficiency syndrome," but this disease is not an autoimmune illness. It is caused by a virus (HIV) that damages the person's immune system. Autoimmune diseases include systematic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, type 1 diabetes, Crohn's disease, and multiple sclerosis.

Researchers don't know why this is so, but one theory suggests that the hormone estrogen may play a role.

A. Children younger than 12
B. Men older than 40
C. Women of childbearing age
D. Women older than 50

4. What tissues, organs, or body systems can be affected by autoimmune diseases?

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Autoimmune disease can affect any organ in the body, although certain diseases attack specific organs. In Crohn's disease, for instance, the area affected is the gut. In multiple sclerosis, the areas affected are the brain and spinal cord.

A. Skin
B. Joints
C. Thyroid
D. All of the above

5. Lupus is more common among women in which ethnic group?

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Lupus is more common among African-American women. Hispanic women also are more likely to develop lupus.

A. Caucasians
B. African Americans
C. Hispanics
D. B and C

6. How does a person develop an autoimmune disease?

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Autoimmune diseases have a variety of causes, although doctors don't yet know them all. Some, such as rheumatic fever, develop after a streptococcal infection. People taking methyldopa for high blood pressure can develop lupus. Stopping the medicine usually stops lupus. Some autoimmune diseases run in families, which suggests that genes play a role.

A. It may be triggered by a virus, such as mumps
B. It may be a complication of an existing infection, such as strep throat
C. It may be caused by exposure to an environmental agent
D. Most do not have an obvious cause
E. All of the above

7. Why are some autoimmune diseases difficult to diagnose?

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For many autoimmune diseases, the vague early symptoms and lack of specific diagnostic tests make them difficult to diagnose.

A. Symptoms may be vague
B. No specific lab tests exist to confirm a diagnosis
C. Symptoms may come and go, making it hard to pinpoint the problem
D. All of the above

8. Which of these autoimmune diseases can be cured?

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But some autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis, can go into remission, even without treatment. For the most part, though, autoimmune illnesses are chronic, needing lifelong monitoring and care. Medicine can help reduce or stop the damage caused by some of the diseases. Medicine can also help suppress the immune system's response, helping to ease symptoms caused by the disease.